JP5977644B2 - Process planning support apparatus, program, and process planning support method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a process plan support apparatus, a program, and a process plan support method.

  In paragraph [0011] of Patent Document 1 below, input / intermediate processing data / results in process design upstream of production activities are required in a production preparation work support system such as a production scheduling system or an NC automatic programming system. It expresses that it can be easily converted into a data format, and integrates production scheduling and production information preparation work based on the process design processing results, thereby efficiently producing production line control operation programs. It is described as the purpose.

JP-A-4-372002

  By the way, in the conventional NC data creation, in order to plan the machining process based on the CAM operator's empirical knowledge in a huge combination of tool / machine selection / setup setting, machining area setting, machining condition setting, CAM Depending on the level of experience of the operator, the machining time of the machining process plan may not be the shortest and may vary.

  The technique of the above-mentioned patent document 1 is a technique for calling up NC data previously registered in a database manually. Therefore, the registered information may not be optimal depending on the degree of experience of the person who registers in the database, and the NC data created using the information may not be optimal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable automatic generation of an optimal work procedure by a processing machine regardless of the presence or absence of an operator's experience.

In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted.
The present application includes a plurality of means for solving the above-described problems. To give an example, the present application is a process plan support apparatus that supports the creation of control data for a processing machine, which is a processing machine related to a plurality of processing machines. A storage unit that stores information; a removal region calculation unit that calculates a removal region from a difference between a product shape and a material shape; and the removal region based on a movable range of each processing machine that is a candidate for performing the removal operation of the removal region A divided area calculation unit that generates divided areas, and a tool path generation unit that generates, for each of the divided areas, a tool path for removing the divided areas for each of the processing machines included in the processing machine information ; for each of the divided regions, and calculates the time for removing the divided regions according to the tool path on the machine each time included in the processing machine information, the time to remove all of the divided regions And a processing time calculation unit for calculating a combination of tool paths to be small.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically generate an optimal work procedure by a processing machine regardless of whether the operator has experience.

It is a system configuration figure showing an example of functional composition of processing system 10 in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of the process plan assistance apparatus 20 in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the processing machine data 210 which the memory | storage part 21 has memorize | stored. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the tool data 211 which the memory | storage part 21 has memorize | stored. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating an example of each dimension of a tool or a holder. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the processing machine condition data 212 which the memory | storage part 21 has memorize | stored. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the product CAD data 213 which the memory | storage part 21 has memorize | stored. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of material CAD data 214 stored in a storage unit 21. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating an example of the setup surface 400 and the setup surface 401. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a process of calculating a removal region 42. FIG. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a method for dividing a removal region 42; 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a divided region 43. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a result display screen 50. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the process plan support apparatus 20. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of the process plan assistance apparatus 20 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the injection amount data 215 which the memory | storage part 21 has memorize | stored in 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating an example of the processing machine allocation plan screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the computer 70 which implement | achieves the function of the process plan assistance apparatus 20.

  First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a machining system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The processing system 10 includes a process plan support device 20 and a plurality of processing machines 11. The process plan support apparatus 20 and each processing machine 11 are connected to a communication line 12 and can communicate via the communication line 12.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the process plan support apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The process plan support apparatus 20 includes a storage unit 21, a removal region calculation unit 22, a divided region calculation unit 23, a tool path calculation unit 24, a machining time calculation unit 25, and a calculation result output unit 26. The storage unit 21 stores processing machine data 210, tool data 211, processing machine condition data 212, product CAD data 213, and material CAD data 214.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the processing machine data 210 stored in the storage unit 21. In the processing machine data 210, a processing machine name 2101, a shaft configuration 2102, a setup time 2103, and the like are stored in advance in association with a processing machine ID 2100 for identifying each processing machine. Further, in the processing machine ID 2100, a stroke 2104, a setup time 2105, and the like are stored in advance for each axis in the axis configuration 2102.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the tool data 211 stored in the storage unit 21. In the tool data 211, a processing machine ID 2111 of a processing machine to which the tool is attached, a tool diameter 2112, a tool tip radius 2113, a tool length 2114, a holder diameter 2115, and a holder are associated with a tool ID 2110 for identifying each tool. The length 2116 and the like are stored in advance.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of each dimension of the tool and the holder. In the tool data 211 shown in FIG. 4, the tool diameter 2112 is, for example, the dimension indicated by reference numeral 32, the tool tip radius 2113 is, for example, the dimension indicated by reference numeral 34, and the tool length 2114 is, for example, the dimension indicated by reference numeral 33. The holder diameter 2115 indicates, for example, the dimension indicated by reference numeral 30, and the holder length 2116 indicates, for example, the dimension indicated by reference numeral 31.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the processing machine condition data 212 stored in the storage unit 21. In the processing machine condition data 212, a condition table 2121 is stored in advance in association with a material ID 2120 for identifying each material. In each condition table 2121, a tool ID 2123, a rotation speed 2124, a feed speed 2125, a one-blade feed 2126, a cutting speed 2127, and a shaft cut 2128 of a tool to be used are associated with a condition ID 2122 for identifying each machining condition. , And a diameter cut 2129 are stored in advance.

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of product CAD data 213 stored in the storage unit 21. The product CAD data 213 is associated with a product ID 2130 for identifying each product, CAD data 2131 indicating the shape of the product (see, for example, FIG. 10A), and a material used for processing the product. A material ID 2132 is stored in advance.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the material CAD data 214 stored in the storage unit 21. In the material CAD data 214, CAD data 2141 (for example, see FIG. 10B) indicating the shape of the material is stored in advance in association with the material ID 2140 for identifying each material.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description will be continued. The removal area calculation unit 22 refers to the CAD data in the product CAD data 213 for each product, and uses the information on the characteristic plane (face plane) included in the CAD data to process the product. A surface indicating the boundary between an area that is sometimes gripped by the processing machine and an area that can be processed by the processing machine is created as a setup surface for each processing machine.

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the setup surface 400 and the setup surface 401. The removal area calculation unit 22 calculates, for example, the setup surface 400 and the setup surface 401 from the CAD data of the product shape 40 as the setup surface.

  FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the calculation process of the removal region 42. Next, for each product, the removal area calculation unit 22 extracts product shape CAD data from the product CAD data 213 and extracts material CAD data used for processing the product from the material CAD data 214. And the removal area | region calculation part 22 shows the area | region which should be removed from the difference of the product shape 40 (for example, Fig.10 (a)) and the raw material shape 41 (for example, Fig.10 (b)) using these CAD data. The removal area 42 (for example, FIG. 10C) is calculated. Then, the removal area calculation unit 22 sends the removal area 42 calculated for each product to the divided area calculation unit 23.

  The divided area calculation unit 23 refers to the processing machine data 210 for each product removal area 42, and calculates a plane (not necessarily a plane) that defines the limit of the movable range for each processing machine as a setup plane. . Then, the divided area calculation unit 23 divides the removal area 42 by the setup surface calculated for each processing machine to create a divided area.

  FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a method for dividing the removal region 42. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the setup surface 420, the setup surface 421, the setup surface 422, and the setup surface 423 are calculated for a plurality of processing machines, and the removal region 42 is calculated by these calculated surfaces. Is divided. As described above, since the removal area 42 is divided on the surface that defines the limit of the movable range for each processing machine, there is always at least one processing machine that can completely remove the division area for each divided area. .

  For example, in the case of a 3-axis processing machine, one setup surface is calculated when a material is gripped at a certain angle. However, if the angle at which the material is gripped is changed, a different setup surface for the material is obtained. It will exist, and the setup surface will be calculated by the amount changed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the divided region calculation unit 23, when there is a degree of freedom of 360 degrees for gripping the material, provides, for example, four setup surfaces every 90 degrees in order to speed up the processing. calculate.

  FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the divided region 43. The removal area 42 is divided by a plurality of setup surfaces as shown in FIG. 11, whereby a plurality of division areas 43 are generated by the division area calculation unit 23 as shown in FIG. 12. The divided area calculation unit 23 sends information on each divided area 43 generated for each product to the tool path calculation unit 24.

  The tool path calculation unit 24 refers to the processing machine data 210 and the tool data 211 for each divided area 43 calculated for each product, and is a tool trajectory for removing the divided area 43 for each processing machine. Generate toolpath. For one divided region 43, each tool path of all the processing machines is calculated one by one. Then, the tool path calculation unit 24 sends, to the machining time calculation unit 25, tool path data calculated for each divided region 43 for each product by each processing machine.

  For each product, the machining time calculation unit 25 refers to the product CAD data 213 and receives the product path information for each product from the tool path calculation unit 24 for each product. The material ID of the material used for processing the product is specified. Then, the processing time calculation unit 25 specifies the condition table 2121 in the processing machine condition data 212 based on the specified material ID.

  Next, the processing time calculation unit 25 refers to the tool data 211 for each processing machine, and specifies the tool ID of the tool used by the processing machine. Then, for each combination of the product and the divided region 43, the machining time calculation unit 25 refers to the condition table 2121 for each tool and extracts a machining condition when the tool is used. Then, the machining time calculation unit 25 determines the machining time when the tool is moved along the tool path based on the length of the tool path calculated by the tool path calculation unit 24 under the extracted machining conditions as the product. The calculation is performed for each combination of the divided region 43 and the processing machine.

  Next, the machining time calculation unit 25 uses the information on all the machining times calculated for each combination of the product, the divided region 43, and the processing machine, and for each divided region 43 that minimizes the total machining time for each product. The combination of machining times is calculated. The machining time calculation unit 25 obtains the total machining time L by, for example, a branch and bound method as a mixed integer programming problem represented by the following mathematical formulas 1 to 9, for example.

  Table 1 below describes the subscripts, parameters, and variables used in Equations 1-9.

  Formula 1 represents that a process plan that minimizes the total machining time L is created using the total machining time L of the machining process plan as an objective function.

  Equations 2 and 3 represent that the machining process is performed on the selected machine and setup surface.

  Equations 4 and 5 indicate that the machining process is performed with at most one processing machine and one grip.

  Equation 6 indicates that the divided area must be removed by one machining by any of the processing machines.

  Formula 7 represents that the divided regions that are continuously processed are adjacent to each other.

  Formula 8 represents the definition of the total machining time L of the machining process plan.

  Equation 9 represents the range of the variable.

  The machining time calculation unit 25 calculates the minimum total machining time L calculated for each product using the above-described formulas 1 to 9, the machining time of each divided area included in the total machining time L, and the machining of each divided area. The process number indicating the order is sent to the calculation result output unit 26, and the tool path data of each divided area having the minimum total machining time L is sent to the data setting unit 27 for each product. The calculation result output unit 26 creates a result display screen 50 as shown in FIG. 13, for example, based on the information received from the machining time calculation unit 25 and displays it on the display device 200.

  FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the result display screen 50. The processing information 52 is displayed on the result display screen 50 for each product ID 51. Each processing information 52 is provided with an area 53 for displaying the shape of each divided area for each area ID for identifying each divided area. The user can confirm the shapes of all the divided areas by operating the slider 54 via the input device 201.

  Each machining information 52 is provided with an area 55 for displaying the total machining time calculated by the machining time calculation unit 25, and a machining time table 56 showing a breakdown of the total machining time is displayed below the area 55. The

  In the processing time table 56, in correspondence with the process number 560 indicating the order of the respective processing steps, the region ID 561 of the divided region removed in the processing step, the processing machine name 562 of the processing machine that removes the divided region, In addition, a processing time 563 and the like required for removing the divided area are included. The user can refer to these pieces of information in all process numbers by operating the slider 564 via the input device 201.

  When the user presses the execution button 565 via the input device 201, the data setting unit 27 determines the product with the product ID 51 based on the product ID 51 of the processing information 52 including the pressed execution button 565. The calculated tool path data of each divided area is transferred to the processing machine that processes the divided area via the communication line 12.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the process plan support apparatus 20. For example, when receiving an instruction from the user via the input device 201, the process plan support apparatus 20 starts the operation illustrated in this flowchart.

  First, the removal area calculation unit 22 refers to the product CAD data 213 and selects one unselected product ID (S100). Then, the removal region calculation unit 22 extracts the CAD data associated with the selected product ID from the product CAD data 213, and uses the characteristic plane information included in the CAD data, to A setup surface indicating a boundary between an area gripped by the processing machine at the time of processing and an area that can be processed by the processing machine is calculated.

  Next, the removal area calculation unit 22 extracts the material ID associated with the product ID selected in S100 from the product CAD data 213, and converts the CAD data associated with the extracted material ID into the material CAD data 214. Extract from Then, the removal area calculation unit 22 calculates a removal area (see FIG. 10C) indicating an area to be removed from the difference between the product shape and the material shape using these CAD data (S102). The information on the removed area is sent to the divided area calculation unit 23.

  Next, the divided area calculation unit 23 refers to the processing machine data 210 for each processing machine, and calculates a surface that defines the limit of the movable range of each processing machine as a setup surface. Then, the divided area calculation unit 23 calculates a divided area by dividing the removal area by the setup surface calculated for each processing machine (S103), and sends the calculated information of each divided area to the tool path calculation unit 24. .

  Next, the tool path calculation unit 24 selects one unselected divided region among the divided regions received from the divided region calculation unit 23 (S104). Then, the tool path calculation unit 24 selects one unselected processing machine with reference to the processing machine data 210 (S105), and selects the selected processing machine with reference to the tool data 211 in step S104. A tool path, which is a tool trajectory for removing the divided areas, is generated, and the generated tool path data is sent to the machining time calculation unit 25.

  Next, the processing time calculation unit 25 refers to the tool data 211 for the processing machine selected in step S105, specifies the tool ID of the tool used by the processing machine, and sets the processing conditions when the tool is used as the processing machine. Extracted from the condition data 212. Then, the machining time calculation unit 25 calculates the machining time when the tool is moved along the tool path based on the length of the tool path generated by the tool path calculation unit 24 under the extracted machining conditions. (S106).

  Next, the tool path calculation unit 24 refers to the processing machine data 210 and determines whether all the processing machines have been selected (S107). When there is an unselected processing machine (S107: No), the tool path calculation unit 24 executes the process shown in step S105 again. On the other hand, when all the processing machines have been selected (S107: Yes), the tool path calculation unit 24 determines whether all the divided areas have been selected (S108). When there is an unselected divided area (S108: No), the tool path calculation unit 24 executes the process shown in step S104 again.

  On the other hand, when all the divided areas are selected (S108: Yes), the machining time calculation unit 25 uses the information on all the machining times calculated for each combination of the divided areas and the processing machine, for example, the formulas 1 to 1 described above. As a mixed integer programming problem represented by 9, a combination of machining times that minimizes the total machining time L is calculated by, for example, a branch and bound method (S 109), and the calculated information is sent to the calculation result output unit 26.

  Next, the removal area calculation unit 22 refers to the product CAD data 213 and determines whether all product IDs have been selected (S110). When there is an unselected product ID (S110: No), the removal area calculation unit 22 executes the process shown in step S100 again. On the other hand, when all the product IDs are selected (S110: Yes), the calculation result output unit 26 creates the result display screen 50 described in FIG. 13 based on the information received from the processing time calculation unit 25, for example. The image is displayed on the display device 200 (S111).

  Then, after confirming the total machining time calculated for each product ID and the contents of the machining time table, when the user presses the execute button, the data setting unit 27 causes each processing machine 11 to communicate via the communication line 12. The tool path data is transferred to (S112), and the process plan support apparatus 20 ends the operation shown in this flowchart.

  The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the process plan support apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically generate an optimal work procedure by the processing machine regardless of whether or not the operator has experience.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the process plan support apparatus 20 according to the second embodiment. Except for the points described below, in FIG. 15, the configuration denoted by the same reference numeral as in FIG. 2 has the same or similar function as the configuration in FIG.

  The storage unit 21 in the present embodiment stores processing machine data 210, tool data 211, processing machine condition data 212, product CAD data 213, material CAD data 214, and input amount data 215.

  FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the input amount data 215 stored in the storage unit 21 in the second embodiment. In the input amount data 215, the product production quantity 2151 and the input date 2152 of the material necessary for manufacturing the product are stored in advance in association with the product ID 2150 for identifying each product.

  In the present embodiment, the calculation result output unit 26 includes the minimum total machining time L calculated for each product by the machining time calculation unit 25, the machining time of each divided area included in the total machining time L, and each divided area. When the process number indicating the processing order is received, the input amount data 215 is referred to for each product, and a gun chart in which the processing time of each process is mapped on the basis of the date when the material of the product is input is created. Then, the calculation result output unit 26 collects the created gun charts for each processing machine, creates a processing machine allocation plan screen 60 as shown in FIG. 17, for example, and displays the generated processing machine allocation plan screen 60 as a display device. 200.

  FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the processing machine allocation plan screen 60. The processing machine allocation plan screen 60 includes an area 61 in which a processing machine name is displayed, an area 62 in which a process number is displayed, and an area 63 in which a gun chart for each process of each product is displayed. The user operates the slider 64 or the slider 65 via the input device 201 to check the number of the process performed by each processing machine, the date and time when the process is performed, the ID of the product processed in the process, and the like. can do.

  The second embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

  Note that the process plan support apparatus 20 in the first or second embodiment described above is realized by a computer 70 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 18, for example.

  FIG. 18 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the computer 70 that realizes the functions of the process plan support apparatus 20. The computer 70 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 71, a random access memory (RAM) 72, a read only memory (ROM) 73, a hard disk drive (HDD) 74, a communication interface (I / F) 75, an input / output interface (I). / F) 76 and a media interface (I / F) 77.

  The CPU 71 operates based on a program stored in the ROM 73 or the HDD 74 and controls each part. The ROM 73 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 71 when the computer 70 is started up, a program depending on the hardware of the computer 70, and the like.

  The HDD 74 stores a program executed by the CPU 71, data used by the program, and the like. The communication interface 75 receives data from other devices via the communication line 12 and sends the data to the CPU 71, and transmits data generated by the CPU 71 to other devices via the communication line 12.

  The CPU 71 controls the display device 200 and the input device 201 via the input / output interface 76. The CPU 71 acquires a signal from the input device 201 via the input / output interface 76. Further, the CPU 71 outputs the generated signal to the display device 200 via the input / output interface 76.

  The media interface 77 reads a program or data stored in the recording medium 78 and provides it to the CPU 71 via the RAM 72. The CPU 71 loads the program from the recording medium 78 onto the RAM 72 via the media interface 77 and executes the loaded program. The recording medium 78 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or PD (Phase change rewritable disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. Etc.

  The CPU 71 of the computer 70 executes the program loaded on the RAM 72, thereby removing the removal region calculation unit 22, the divided region calculation unit 23, the tool path calculation unit 24, the machining time calculation unit 25, the calculation result output unit 26, and Each function of the data setting unit 27 is realized. The ROM 73 and the HDD 74 store data in the storage unit 21.

  The CPU 71 of the computer 70 reads these programs from the recording medium 78 and executes them, but as another example, these programs may be acquired from other devices via the communication line 12.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist. For example, in the first embodiment described above, the combination of tool paths that minimizes the total machining time is displayed on the result display screen 50 for each product. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the total machining time is short. In order, a combination of tool paths up to a predetermined order may be displayed on the result display screen 50 for each product. Thereby, the freedom degree of selection of a processing machine can be raised.

  Further, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to the one having all the constituent elements described. In addition, a part of the configuration of a certain embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of a certain embodiment. In addition, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, control lines and information lines are those that are considered necessary for explanation, and not all control lines and information lines on the product are necessarily shown. Actually, it may be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

10: processing system, 11: processing machine, 12: communication line, 20: process plan support device, 200: display device, 201: input device, 21: storage unit, 210: processing machine data, 211: tool data, 212: Processing machine condition data, 213: Product CAD data, 214: Material CAD data, 215: Input amount data, 22: Removal area calculation section, 23: Division area calculation section, 24: Tool path calculation section, 25: Processing time calculation section , 26: calculation result output unit, 27: data setting unit, 40: product shape, 41: material shape, 42: removal region, 43: divided region, 50: result display screen, 60: processing machine allocation plan screen, 70: Computer, 71: CPU, 72: RAM, 73: ROM, 74: HDD, 75: Communication interface, 76: Input / output interface, 77: Media interface Chair, 78: recording medium

Claims (7)

A process plan support device for supporting the creation of control data for a processing machine,
A storage unit for storing processing machine information on a plurality of processing machines;
A removal area calculation unit for calculating a removal area from the difference between the product shape and the material shape;
A divided region calculation unit that generates a divided region by dividing the removal region based on a movable range of each processing machine that is a candidate for performing the removal operation of the removal region;
For each of the divided areas, a tool path generation unit that generates a tool path for removing the divided area for each of the processing machines included in the processing machine information ;
For each of the divided areas, a tool path that calculates the time for removing the divided areas according to the tool path for each of the processing machines included in the processing machine information, and minimizes the time for removing all the divided areas. A process planning support device comprising a machining time calculation unit for calculating a combination of the two. The process plan support apparatus according to claim 1,
The divided region calculation unit
A process plan support apparatus that divides the removal area by a plane that defines a boundary of a movable range of each processing machine that is a candidate for performing the removal work of the removal area, and generates the divided area. The process plan support apparatus according to claim 1,
For the tool path combination calculated by the machining time calculation unit, for each tool path, information on the order in which the tool path is executed, information on the divided areas removed by the tool path, and the divided areas are removed. A process plan support apparatus, further comprising: a calculation result output unit that outputs a calculation result including at least one of information on a processing machine or information on a time taken to remove a divided region by the tool path. The process plan support apparatus according to claim 3,
The machining time calculation unit
In order from the one that minimizes the time to remove all the divided areas, information on the combination of a predetermined number of tool paths is calculated,
The calculation result output unit
A calculation result for a combination of a predetermined number of tool paths calculated by the machining time calculation unit, the calculation result including information ranked from the one that minimizes the time to remove all the divided regions is output. Process planning support device characterized by the above. The process plan support apparatus according to claim 1,
The removal area calculation unit
Calculate the removal area for each product shape of a plurality of products,
The machining time calculation unit
A process planning support apparatus that calculates a combination of tool paths that minimizes the time for removing all the divided regions for each of the plurality of products. A program that causes a computer to function as a process plan support device that supports creation of control data for a processing machine,
In the computer,
A removal area calculation function for calculating a removal area from the difference between the product shape and the material shape;
A divided region calculation function for generating a divided region by dividing the removal region based on a movable range of each processing machine that is a candidate for performing the removal operation of the removal region;
For each of the divided areas, a tool path generation function for generating a tool path for removing the divided areas for each of the processing machines included in the processing machine information regarding the plurality of processing machines stored in the storage unit ;
For each of the divided areas, a tool path that calculates the time for removing the divided areas according to the tool path for each of the processing machines included in the processing machine information, and minimizes the time for removing all the divided areas. A program characterized by realizing a machining time calculation function for calculating a combination of the two. A process plan support method in a process plan support apparatus that supports creation of control data of a processing machine,
The process plan support device
A removal area calculating step for calculating a removal area from the difference between the product shape and the material shape;
A divided region calculation step of generating a divided region by dividing the removal region based on a movable range of each processing machine as a candidate for performing the removal operation of the removal region;
For each of the divided areas, a tool path generating step for generating a tool path for removing the divided areas for each of the processing machines included in the processing machine information related to the plurality of processing machines stored in the storage unit ;
For each of the divided areas, a tool path that calculates the time for removing the divided areas according to the tool path for each of the processing machines included in the processing machine information, and minimizes the time for removing all the divided areas. A process planning support method comprising: executing a machining time calculating step for calculating a combination of the two.

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